Determining Vertical Velocity of Ekranoplane Using Monocular or Stereo Images of Sea Waves

Abstract

An Ekranoplane is an amphibious plane that flies close to the sea surface. The paper presents an original idea of determining vertical velocity of such an aircraft with the help of passive optical measurements using digital monocular as well as stereo-images. However, the task of determining vertical velocity of an Ekranoplane using image-processing is very specific and complicated because the object is the sea-surface, which is not rigid and changes its shape. This makes it difficult to use usual algorithms that have already been researched. Simple edge detection technique forms the basis of determining vertical velocity using monocular images whereas cross-correlation forms the basis for stereo-images. The paper also discusses how the rate of climb indicator based on this principle can have a faster time response, which is required for such a low altitude flight.